Will NSA & CyberCom Split?

Talk of separating the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command continues to pop up, as officials discuss the best path forward for agencies with different but related missions.

The Obama administration's top defense and intelligence officials are proposing a plan to separate the spying and war fighting arms of America's vast hacking apparatus, an idea that was recommended, but rejected after the Edward Snowden revelations of 2013.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper both support a proposal to separate NSA from CYBERCOM, but both declined to comment for the record.

The agencies currently share the same leader, Adm. Mike Rogers, and headquarters space at Fort Meade, Maryland. But their missions differ: NSA focuses on intelligence while CYBERCOM conducts military cyberspace operations.

“While USCYBERCOM resides with NSA, the two organizations are distinct entities with separate missions, authorities and resource streams,” said Rogers in written testimony for an April 5 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. “Neither is an arm of the other, and both perform vital tasks on behalf of our nation.”

Adm. Mike Rogers wears two hats.

Rogers at the hearing said he supported elevating CYBERCOM to a unified combatant command, which “would allow us to be faster, which would generate better mission outcomes.” He, however, warned against taking control of CYBERCOM away from the NSA chief at this time, in part because of the command’s reliance on NSA systems.

Senior military leaders have served as NSA director since the agency’s founding in 1952. According to NBC News, future directors would be four-star generals or the equivalent, a higher rank than currently leads the agency. An earlier Reuters report said future directors could be civilians to show NSA doesn’t report to CYBERCOM.

“Following a thorough interagency review, the administration has decided that keeping the positions of NSA director and Cyber Command commander together as one, dual-hatted position is the most effective approach to accomplishing both agencies’ missions,” White House’s National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.


DefenseOne:       ABC

 

« Delete Google Maps But They'll Still Track You
Uber Starts Self Driving Taxis »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Covenco

Covenco

Covenco is a data management and IT infrastructure specialist. Working with customers to transform their IT environments, with data protection and security at the forefront of everything we do.

Performanta

Performanta

Performanta offer a consultative approach to people, process and technology, focusing on security projects in line with adversarial, accidental and environmental business risk.

Cifas

Cifas

Cifas are leaders in fraud prevention, working closely with UK law enforcement partners.

Tinfoil Security

Tinfoil Security

Tinfoil is a simple, developer friendly service that lets you scan your website for vulnerabilities and fix them quickly and easily.

Egis Technology

Egis Technology

Egis specializes in the IC design, research and development, and the testing and sales of capacitive fingerprint sensor.

Jamcracker

Jamcracker

Jamcracker is a cloud services management and cloud governance solutions company, with more than a decade of experience providing industry leading software and services.

Ntirety

Ntirety

Ntirety Managed Security Services offer enterprise businesses the advanced tools, processes, and support to ensure your infrastructure, networks, and mission-critical applications are secure.

Axiomtek

Axiomtek

Axiomtek is a leading design and manufacturing company in the industrial computer and embedded field.

e-End

e-End

e-End provides hard drive shredding, degaussing and data destruction solutions validated by the highest electronic certifcations to keep you compliant with GLB, SOX, FACTA, FISMA, HIPAA, COPPA, ITAR.

SIS Certifications (SIS CERT)

SIS Certifications (SIS CERT)

SIS Certifications is an ISO certification body serving more than 10,000 clients in over 15 countries worldwide.

GreyNoise Intelligence

GreyNoise Intelligence

GreyNoise Intelligence is a cyber security company that collects, labels, and analyzes Internet-wide scan and attack data.

SecureOps

SecureOps

SecureOps is transforming the Managed Security Service Provider industry by providing tailored cybersecurity solutions proven to protect organizations from cyberattacks.

BaXian Group

BaXian Group

BaXian AG is an international consulting company specializing in IT security, data analytics, risk management and compliance.

Kubus Hitam

Kubus Hitam

Kubus Hitam are a research-based company focused on cyber security. we strongly believe that innovation and safety are the two keywords for the future business market.

Red Maple Technologies

Red Maple Technologies

Started and run by engineers from the UK Intelligence and Defence communities, Red Maple is a technical consultancy and product company.

Prescott

Prescott

Prescott acts as your guiding light in the preparation for your CMMC assessment and long after by governing your cybersecurity practice.

ZEUSS

ZEUSS

ZEUSS is a diversified data center, cybersecurity, and green energy company.

Oxygen Technologies

Oxygen Technologies

Oxygen Technologies is a business systems strategy and integration company offering a variety of solutions to give our clients ways to work smarter not harder.